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Border Challenges

February 27, 2009

In a review of the American northern and southern borders, where and how should the new homeland security team led by Secretary Janet Napolitano focus its efforts? Napolitano has ordered a review of the shared border with Canada, saying that it now presents a greater terrorist threat than the southern one.

The American Congress in 2006, with then-Sen. Barack Obama's support, authorized nearly $3 billion for 670 miles of fencing stretching from California to Texas. Studies have shown that many cross-border problems, the drug trade, gun smuggling, border security, the environment and illegal immigration, differ only in degree.

But these border crimes do not stop at the border. "The raging drug war among cartels in Mexico and their push to expand operations in the United States has led to a wave of kidnappings, shootings and home invasions in Arizona, state and federal officials said at a legislative hearing on Monday" (NY Times).

This is not a new phenomenon. Arizona has long served as an entry point into the U.S. for drug and human smuggling as well as a hub for military-style weaponry bound for Mexico. According to authorities, the increase in border-related crime is connected with the violence in Mexico.

The challenge, given the variety of threat perceptions (security and economic issues) and varied perspectives, is to distinguish "between the nature and severity of risks along the northern and southern American borders." Geoffrey Hale, in "In Search of Effective Border Management," a new paper released by the Canadian International Council, outlines the past successes and areas for improvement with regards to the cross-border policies of Canada and the United States. To counter strategic limitations, infrastructure design flaws, and the risks of external and domestic terror attacks, the paper promotes stronger political leadership and inter-agency coordination, increased cross-border cooperation, significant increases in staffing, the creation of performance benchmarks, as well as improved consultation between sub-national governments and societal stakeholders.

Hale argues: "The higher political and risk profile of the U.S.-Mexico border challenges the possibility of addressing northern and southern border issues in isolation from one another. However, addressing the U.S.-Canadian and U.S.-Mexican borders through a single process significantly increases the risks to Canadians and often U.S. border state interests because these border thickening measures are frequently imposed without adequate consideration to risk or economic impact."

On Monday, President Obama outlined his expectations that the White House's Homeland Security Council will be integrated with the National Security Council, with increased authority to address a broader range of international and domestic issues, including terrorism, organized crime, and narco-trafficking.

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Tags: Border, Canada, Crime, Drugs, Immigration, Kidnappings, Mexico, National Security, Security, Trade, United States